Exhibits on Kim Jong-Nam's murder opened at Chemistry Dept for security reasons - court heard

Two exhibits in the North Korean Kim Chol or Kim Jong-Nam's murder case, comprising T-shirts with the name of the two accused and nail samples, were produced at the Department of Chemistry, Malaysia, today for identification.

The identification process of the exhibits, which were stored in a sealed plastic bag, was done at the laboratory of the department for safety reasons.

Lawyer Datuk Naran Singh, representing one of the accused, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, when met after the proceeding, said the identification process took almost an hour and all those present in the laboratory were required to wear hazmat suit and mask.

He said those present during the identification process at the laboratory were Doan, lawyer S.Selvi, who represented the other accused, Indonesian Siti Aishah, two security guards and the Laboratory Head of the Chemical Weapon Centre of the Malaysian Chemistry Department, Dr.S. Raja.

High Court judge Datuk Azmi Ariffin, who presided hearing of the case, the prosecution and other lawyers involved were outside the laboratory.

Meanwhile, lawyer Gooi Soon Seng, who also represented Siti Aisyah, said a blazer belonging to Kim Chol could be be produced for identification as the exhibit to North Korea.

"We believed that the blazer is a vital piece of evidence as it contained maximum concentration of VX. We will submit on the issue during submission, (on why the blazer was not tendered as an exhibit)," he said

When questioned why Siti Aisyah was not among those in the laboratory, Gooi said her presence was not necessary.

Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the afternoon proceeding of the case was postponed to tomorrow as Dr Raja, who was schedules to continue his testimony, was not well.

During the proceeding last Thursday, Dr. Raja, who is the eighth witness, suggested the exhibits for identification to be opened at the Chemistry Department for safety reasons as active VX nerve agent was still found on the two T-shirts and nail samples.

Siti Aisyah, 25, and Doan , 28, both clad in baju kurung, arrived at the Chemistry Department at 9.30 am and were escorted by the police.

They were charged with four others still at large with the murder of Kim Chol, 45, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the KL International Airport 2 (klia2) departure hall at 9 am on Feb 13 this year.

The two women are charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

-BERNAMA